Method of making pressure sensitive labels



Dec. 25, 1945. R. s. AVERY METHOD OF MAKING PRESSURE SENSITIVE LABELSFiled July 13, 1942 Patented Dec. 25, 1945 arouses iun'rnon or MAKINGPRESSURE snusmva means a, Stanton Avery, Los Angeles, Calif. ApplicationJuly 13, 1942, Serial NoABii/i'ld 2 Claims. (cl. Isl-2) This inventionrelates to a method of making pressure sensitive adhesive tapes, labels,and the like, and the resulting product. 7

An object of the invention is to provide a backing sheet on whichseparated tapes or labels are mounted by means of a normally tackyadhesive commonly referred to in this art'as pressure sensitiveadhesive, whereby the backing sheet may serve as a convenient holder forholding the tapes or labels conveniently assembled together prior to theremoval of the tapes or labels upon their application to variousarticles that the tapes or labels are to be applied.

More specifically, an object of the invention is to provide a methodwhereby the paper stock that forms the tapes or label is divided intoseparated portions prior to its being brought into adhesive engagementwith the backing whereby the portions bi the paper stock, althoughseparated from I each other are, nevertheless, in contiguousrelationship covering substantially the entire backing so that theadhesive will be effectively protected thereby but enabling theseparated portions to be individually removed. g

Another object of the invention is to provide a method of makingpressure sensitive tapes and labels wherein a backing is employed towhich the adhesive does not strongly adhere and the adhesive isoriginally applied to the backing and the paper stock which has beenfirst longitudinally divided is then brought into engagement with theadhesive on the backing so that. in effect, the

adhesive is transferred from the backing to the paper and uponsubsequent removal of the paper from the backing the adhesivewill beremoved from the backing along with the paper.

Another object" of the invention is to provide a method of makingpressure sensitive adhesive labels and the like, wherein the paper stockthat items the labels is first longitudinally divided and is thenlaminated 'with the backing with pressure sensitive adhesive between thepaper and the backing and thereafter.-the laminated material is dividedupon transverse lines or ,upon lines that intersect the longitudinaldivision lines to divide the paper stock into the individual labels orstrips of the desired size and shape. Such transverse lines on which thepaper stock is divided may extend also through the backing, enabling theresulting sheet of labels to be separated readily into transverselyextending strips that can be conveniently handled. In some instances, itis desirable to have only the paper stock divided upon the transverselines leaving the backi'ngunsides: or edges of the labels that can bereadily granted to facilitate peeling or removing the liibei, from thebacking.

with the foregoing and other objects in view, which will be mademanifest in the following detailed description and specifically pointedout in the appended claims, reference is had to the accompanying drawingfor an illustrative embodiment of the invention, wherein:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view illustrating apparatus that may beemployed to perform themproved method and obtain the resulting product;

Fig. 2 is a plan'view of one form of product obtainable by the use orthe improved method;

Figs. 3, 4, and 5 are similar views illustrating other types of productsthat are obtainableirom the use of the improved method; and

Fig. 6 is a sectional view through a die that may be employed in themanufacture of the product illustrated in Fig. 5. x

Referring to the accompanying drawing whereparts throughout, Iiiindicates a storageoi paper stock drawn from a suitablesupply such as asupply roll of paper, not shown, and which is drawn between laminatingrolls II and I! over suitable guide rollsl3 and It. This paper stock maybe of=any desired type that is to subsequently form the tapes or labels.it indicates a storage of backing that is trained over rolls I6, I], I8,i8, and 20 prior to being fed between the laminating rolls II and 12. 2|indicates a sum box or a suitable reservolr for pressure sensitiveadhesive 22.

It will be noted that the backing as it passes over the roll is istemporarily immersed in the adhesive 22 so as to be coated therewith onits under side which becomes uppermost on the backtrated in Fig. 2 canthe backing along spaced narrow stripes. In place of the wiping roller awiping blade may be employed if desired.

The backing employed with the'improved method is preferably one to whichthe adhesive does not have any strong afilnity. A typical backin that issuitable is glassine although other backings, such as for exampleCellophane or Pliofllm, may be employed in certain instances.

24 indicates a gang of cutters having longiwith the backing I that hasthe coating of adhesive thereon. With such an arrangement the cuttingedges or blades 25 cut through the paper while it is still dry and whileit has no adhesive ap lied thereto. If the cutting of the paper isdeferred until after the adhesive is applied to the paper, then theadhesive tends to be picked up by the cutting blades with the resulttherein that will divide the sheets upon these transverse lines. Suchcutting rule preferably does not extend into the margin or bindingportion 25 but if it does extend into the margin or binding portion 29,that portion that traverses the binding portion preferably does not cutbut merely perforates the binding portion as indicated at 33 so that themarginal portion 29 remains largely, if not entirely, intact to hold thetransversely extending strips of the backing in assembled relationship.Similarly, a shown in Fig. 4, if desired the transverse cutting rules ordies may leave small fragile connecting webs 34 so that although thebacking is largely divided into transversely extending strips they arenevertheless temporarily held together so that the sheet, although it isreadily divisible, nevertheless is held together to facilitate itshandling as a complete sheet.

The labels 8i in Figs. 3 and 4 can be readily peeled from the backingl5a or if desired the sheet may be divided or separated upon thetransverse lines into individual strips each carrying a relathat theblades must be regularly and periodically I cleaned unless cutting orthe paper canbe accomplished along stripes or areas tov which noadhesive has been applied. With the arrangement as shown in Fig. 1, theapparatus can be continuously operated without the cutting edges be-,

coming gummed and requiring periodic shutdowns and cleaning.

Although the-paper is longitudinally divided by the cutting blades intoseparated strips 21, these strips remain incontiguou edge-to-edgerelationship and as the strips pass with the backing l5 between thelaminating rolls H and they are pressed into firm engagement with theadhesive on the backing efiectively resulting in a transfer of theadhesive from the backing to the paper. Although the adhesive thusbecomes firmly attached to the paper it still remains attached to thebacking but on separating or peeling the paper from the backing it willbe found that most, if not all, of the adhesive remains attached a tothe paper and separates itself from the back- After the laminatedmaterial passes from between the rolls II and I2 it'may then be cut intosuitable sections, such as by a die 28 producing an article, such as isillustrated in Fig. 2, consisting of the backing "in with strips 21temporarily adhering thereto by the pressure sensitive adhesive, thesestrips extending longitudinally of the backing. Frequently, .it isdesired to provide a suitable margin or binding portion 29 that may bepunched-as at 30 to enable the sheets to be kept in a suitable binderfor purposes of convenience. The strips 21 can then be readily removedindividually from the backing and applied to "any article desired. Theymay have printed matter applied thereto. I

When it is desired to have the strips 21 divided into smaller sections,such 3!, the sheet produced by the method. and illus thereafter bedivided upon transverse lines 32 by running the sheets through asuitable die that will cut through both the paper stock and the backing.I find it convenient to divide the sheets in this manner by merelypositioning them in a letter press which has transversely extendingcutting rules mounted as individual labels tively small number of labelsand from which the labels can be individually picked or peeled off.

In some instances it is highly desirable to divide the paper only uponthe transverse lines, in which case a die such as'is' illustrated inFig. 6, may be employed. In this form of construction it is vir-' tuallyessential that a hard, unyielding backing be employed of the characterof glassine. Such a I backing is relatively incompressible as comparedwith ordinary papen' By so regulating the cutting edge 35 it may becaused to penetrate the paper only without cutting through the backing.If the backing is somewhat compressible or rubber-like as in the case ofCellophane, Pliofilm and like materials, this cutting of the paperwithout cutting the backing simultaneously therewith is virtuallyimpossible in that the backing compresses under the cutting edge 35 andwhen the cutting edge penetrates the paper it has a tendency to snapthrough the backing also. By using an incompressible hard backing, suchas glassine such snapping through does not take place with the resultthat the paper only is divided upon the transverse lines and the backingremains entirely intact, such as is illustrated in Fig. 5. In the dieillustrated in Fig. 6, it is usually necessary to have theimpression-die come into metal-to-metal contact with the anvil or matrixtowards which the die is forced.

Fig. 5 illustrates another form of product obtainable by use of thepresent method. In this form of construction the backing l5 has theadhesive 22 applied thereto in longitudinally extending spaced stripes38 spaced from each' other by uncoated or desensitized stripes or areas31. These uncoated or desensitized areas may be formed by either havingthe roll 23 wine adhesive therefrom entirely or an applying roll may beemployed that picks up adhesive from the gum' box and applies it only tothe stripes 38 leaving the areas 31. In producing this form ofconstruction it is possible to apply the adhesive in stripes to theunder side of the Daperstock ill rather than to the upperside of thebacking. The cuttin blades 25 are then arranged to cut the paper stockon longitudinal lines II that are arranged intermediate the sides of thedesensitized or uncoated areas 31, so that when thepaper and backingpass together through the laminating rolls ii and I2 the paper andbacking are laminated together but the labels that are detached mm thebacking to facilitate their being grasped and peeled from the mousebacking. In manuiacturing the article illustrated method' it will beappreciated that it is possible to produce sheets of tapes or labelscontiguously arranged upon a backing and to longitudinally divide thepaper stock prior to its coming in contact with the adhesive so thatdanger of the adhesive accumulating on the cutting knives 25 is entirelyavoided. The resulting product may then be optionally transversely cutinto individual labels by either cutting through the paper and backingentirely on transverse lines, or by leaving temporary connections suchas are afforded by the webs 34, or the paper stock alone may be dividedupon transverse linesleaving the backing intact. I

It is of course possible to divide the sheet of paper on thelongitudinal lines as well as the transverse lines by using a die thatis so regulated that it will penetrate the paper only provided that ahard, unyielding, and virtually incompressible backing such as glassineis employed. In so doing the backing and the paper are first laminatedtobacking. This operation may be performed either before or after thesheet is subjected to the die 38 that cuts the transverse lines. v

- Various changes may be made in the details 01' construction withoutdeparting from the spirit or scope oi the invention as defined by theappended claims.

Iclaim:

1. The method of manufacturing adhesive tapes, labels and the likecomprising applying to a continuous backing a pressure sensitiveadhesive, moving the backing and paper stock of substantiaily the samewidth as the backing width into laminating engagement with each 0 herbetween laminating rolls so as to cause the esive to adhesively connectthe backing and paper stock, and slitting the paper stock just prior toits passing through the laminating rolls into a pluraiity'of stripswhich cooperate with each other to cover the adhesive on the backing.

2. The method of manufacturing adhesive tapes, labels and the likecomprising applying to to adhesively connect the backing and paperstock,

erly regulated it will cut the longitudinal lines and slitting the paperstock just prior to its pass ing through the laminating rolls into aplurality of strips which cooperate with each other to cover theadhesive on the backing and thereafter transversely dividing the stripswithout dividing the backing.

RAY STANTON AVERY.

